PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team opened its 2025–26 campaign in commanding fashion Saturday evening, cruising to a 13–0 exhibition victory over Rivier University at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

The Cardinals, who reached their third straight SUNYAC Championship Game last season, wasted no time reminding fans of their offensive depth and balanced attack. Thirteen different players recorded at least one point, while Plattsburgh outshot Rivier by a staggering 59–21 margin in front of over 1,200 spectators.

Sophomore Quinn Tavares (Mississauga, Ontario) led the offensive outburst with six points on two goals and four assists, earning a hand in four of the team's first five tallies. First-year Gabriel Filion (Montreal, Quebec) added five points (one goal, four assists), while senior Colin Callanan (Stony Point, N.Y.) and first-year defenseman Kyle James (Almonte, Ontario) each posted three-point nights.

Plattsburgh scored five times in the opening period to set the tone. James opened the scoring just 2:05 in, before Tavares, Callanan, sophomore Shane Bondy (Sharon, Ontario), and first-year Mike English (Hague, N.Y.) all found the back of the net in a relentless first frame that included two power-play goals.

The Cardinals added four more goals in the second period, highlighted by tallies from Filion, junior Sam D'Amico (St. Catharines, Ontario), and first-year Thierry Lizotte (Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud, Quebec), while Tavares capped the frame with his second goal of the night. Plattsburgh then closed out the third with another four-goal surge from Callanan, Bondy, senior captain Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio), and senior Riley Sutherland (Burlington, Ontario) to seal the shutout victory.

On the back end, the Cardinals were equally dominant defensively, holding Rivier scoreless on three power-play opportunities while converting three of their own. Three goaltenders split time to preserve the shutout. Junior Dominik Bovan (Bratislava, Slovakia) stopped all five shots he faced in the first period, first-year Beau Lane (Pembroke, Mass.) turned aside eight more in the second, and classmate Bradon Spry (Belleville, Ontario) closed the door with eight saves in the third.

Plattsburgh will look to carry its offensive rhythm into its final exhibition matchup next Saturday at 4 p.m. on the road against fellow SUNYAC opponent SUNY Canton.